JP2006245749A - Facsimile transmission service system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive FAX transmission service with which an installation shop can transmit advertisement (information) to unspecified many opposite parties (advertisement effects) and each FAX receiving user can acquire useful information, in an area where the user has received transmission. <P>SOLUTION: In the FAX transmission service utilizing a FAX system installed in a shop, such as a convenience store, FAX data are temporarily stored in a sever. The server stores the telephone number of a transmission destination, together with the FAX data; and when a user selects an advertisement addition service, the server specifies a transmission area, selects advertisement information matching the transmission area from the telephone number of the transmission destination, and adds the selected advertisement data to the FAX transmission data and performs FAX transmission. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile transmission service system that distributes facsimile images, and more particularly, to a system that adds and distributes data during facsimile distribution.

  With the development of the information society in recent years, various information exchange systems have appeared.

  Accordingly, in recent years, facsimiles (hereinafter abbreviated as “FAX”) have spread rapidly to homes.

  Faxes are also installed not only at home but also at convenience stores (hereinafter abbreviated as convenience stores), for example, to send a facsimile from a destination.

  Recently, a multi-function machine in which a copy and a FAX are integrated is often installed.

On the other hand, the proposal regarding an advertisement delivery database is also made (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP 2003-263586 A

  With the spread of FAX communication in this way, the opportunity to transmit images from a destination to a home FAX is increasing, but the transmission from a FAX installed in a convenience store or the like is expensive.

  In the case of FAX transmission using a normal telephone line, the charge required for the transmission is the same as the telephone call charge. However, in the case of transmission from a FAX set up at a convenience store, the telephone destination (phone destination area) is also specified. For example, since the process of determining the telephone charge is complicated, a uniform high charge is set.

  In the case of FAX, transmission may fail in the middle of transmission depending on the state of the line, etc., so prepare a FAX server between the convenience store FAX and the destination FAX, and do not send it directly to the telephone destination. It is equipped with a mechanism for receiving faxes from the fax server and forwarding faxes from the fax server to the destination, maintaining the quality of the communication line from the convenience store fax to the fax server, and when sending from the fax server to the destination fax fails. By using means such as re-sending, reliable FAX transmission is possible.

  The preparation of such a complicated device such as having a server has also been a factor in raising the FAX transmission fee from the convenience store FAX.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a low-cost facsimile transmission service system.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention reduces the user's FAX transmission fee by the advertisement distribution fee of the installed store by sending an advertisement of the store where the FAX is installed to the FAX transmission. The content of the advertisement (information) to be distributed is made more effective information on the FAX receiving side which is the distributing side.

  More specifically, the first invention of the present invention will be described as follows.

  (1) A facsimile machine installed in a store or the like, and a facsimile server that is connected to the facsimile machine via a communication line, temporarily stores transmission data from the facsimile machine, and transmits (transfers) the facsimile data to the designated destination by facsimile. The facsimile server stores the store information of each region, and receives the destination information and facsimile image data of the destination facsimile device at the time of facsimile transmission from the facsimile device. Is a means for specifying the area of the destination from the destination information of the destination, and means for selecting the area information that best matches the destination from the stored area information of each area from the specified area When the facsimile information is sent (transferred), the store information selected by the selection means is Characterized in that a means for transmitting in addition to data, facsimile transmission service system.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to reduce a transmission charge from a FAX installed in a store such as a convenience store such as a place to go.

  In addition, the user who receives the FAX has the effect of being able to obtain information closely related to the area where the user lives.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a service form of a facsimile transmission service to which the present invention is applied.

  Reference numeral 100 denotes a FAX apparatus installed in a store such as a convenience store, and 102 is connected to the FAX apparatus 100 via a communication line 101, temporarily stores FAX data from the FAX apparatus 100, and transfers the FAX to the designated transmission destination. A FAX server 103 is a regional FAX machine connected to the FAX server 101 via a telephone line 104.

  Next, the operation of the system will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of transmission / reception signals among the convenience store FAX (100), FAX server (102), and FAX apparatus (103). FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) show the FAX server (102). It is a flowchart which shows the processing content in.

  First, when a FAX transmission operation is performed by the convenience store FAX (100), a FAX transmission request signal is sent to the FAX server (102) via the communication line (101). The FAX server (102) determines the reception of this signal (Step 1), and the FAX server (102) that has confirmed the reception determines whether the FAX server (102) can receive FAX data (Step 2). If it is determined that FAX reception / storage is possible, a FAX transmission permission signal is transmitted to the convenience store FAX (100) at Step 3. Here, for example, when the FAX server (102) cannot receive FAX transmission due to insufficient image storage capacity, a FAX transmission prohibition signal is sent to the convenience store FAX (100) (Step 4). ), The convenience store FAX which has received this performs FAX transmission to another FAX server connected via the communication line (101).

  Upon receiving the FAX transmission permission signal, the convenience store FAX (100) transmits the destination information signal to the FAX server (102). The destination information here is a telephone number of the FAX apparatus (103).

  The FAX server (102) waits for reception of this destination information signal (Step 5), and when receiving is detected, stores the received destination information in the internal storage medium (Step 6).

  Next, the convenience store FAX (100) transmits the image data actually transmitted by FAX to the FAX server (102). The FAX server (102) determines the reception of this data (Step 7), and when the reception is confirmed, this data is stored and stored in association with the destination information (Step 8).

  With this process, the communication between the convenience store FAX (100) and the FAX server (102) ends.

  Next, the FAX server (102) specifies a destination area from the accumulated destination information (Step 9). This uses, for example, the area code of the destination information such as a telephone number, the local area code, and is stored in a table or the like as shown in FIG. For example, when the area code is 03 and the city code is 3758, the table is identified as Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo.

  This FAX server stores, for example, the above-mentioned convenience store area information in advance. It is determined whether there is information on the nearest convenience store from the specified area (Step 10), and if there is matching information, the area information is selected (Step 11). When there is no matching information or when the area cannot be limited, the wide area information is selected (Step 12).

  Specifically, this is performed by storing region information corresponding to the table of FIG.

  In the above example, since the area is Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo, information on a convenience store closest to this area (regional information of the Shimomaruko station square store) is selected.

  Here, examples of the area information and the wide area information described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5A shows regional information of “Shimomaruko Station Store Information” in the above-described example, and the contents are featured product information and coupons unique to the store. FIG. 5B shows wide area information that is common to stores that develop the chain.

  Next, the FAX server (102) enters the processing after Step 13 in FIG. In Step 13, the image data received and stored in Steps 7 and 8 and the image of the area information or the wide area information selected by the above-described means are combined.

  This synthesis is performed, for example, by inserting selected area information or wide area information as page data of FAX data by a known means.

  Next, in Step 14, the FAX server (102) transmits the synthesized image to the telephone number of the destination information stored in Step 6 by FAX using a normal FAX transmission means via a telephone line.

  Finally, when the end of FAX transmission is determined (Step 15), a series of processing as a FAX server is ended.

  In this way, a system having a function capable of transmitting FAX by attaching store information in advance is introduced, and from a store such as a convenience store where the FAX is installed, an advertisement amount is collected in advance from the vendor who installed the system. If the system burden and communication costs are covered by this, the FAX transmission fee collected from the user who performs FAX transmission at the end can be reduced.

  As described above, when sending a fax from a store at a destination, etc., because it is a system that adds information on the store that is installed and sends it to the other party, advertising charges can be collected from the installed store. Since the system operation cost and communication cost can be covered by the advertisement fee, the FAX transmission cost borne by the terminal user who actually performs FAX transmission can be reduced.

  Furthermore, because the area of the FAX partner is limited and information closely related to the area is selected and added, it is not only more useful for users who receive information, but also on the store side. There is an advantage that more useful information can be advertised.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the FAX apparatus installed in the store and the FAX server are installed in a place separated by a communication line has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the store is installed in the store. The installed FAX apparatus may also serve as a FAX server.

  As mentioned in the previous explanation, multi-function machines (with functions such as copying, printers, and scanners) that also have a FAX function have been developed. Recently, this multi-function machine is often installed in stores. .

  Some recent multifunction peripherals have a large data storage capacity and can be connected to a communication line such as a LAN.

  Such a multifunction peripheral can sufficiently function as a FAX server.

  A system configuration diagram in this case is shown in FIG.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a FAX apparatus and FAX server installed in a store, and reference numeral 103 denotes a FAX apparatus of the same destination as that in the above-described embodiment.

  In this case, the communication between the FAX apparatus (convenience store FAX) and the FAX server in FIG. 2 is performed inside the FAX apparatus / FAX server, and the processing on the FAX server side is performed by the FAX apparatus / FAX server. The first embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that

  However, as described in the first embodiment, when the FAX server cannot store FAX data due to a situation such as insufficient storage capacity, for example, the communication line (101) of the FAX apparatus / FAX server is used. Communicating with a similar FAX machine / FAX server (201) installed in a store, etc. and requesting image storage and FAX transmission to this server, transmission from other servers described in the first embodiment is also possible. It becomes possible.

  In this way, by making the FAX apparatus installed in the store also have a FAX server function, it is not necessary to provide a special FAX server separately, so that the system can be constructed at a lower cost and ultimately the burden on the user. Fax transmission cost can be set more easily.

  Furthermore, the above-mentioned area information and wide area information that must be originally stored using the communication line between the FAX apparatus and FAX server may be distributed between the FAX apparatus and FAX server. Is possible.

  By having it in a distributed manner, the storage capacity of the fax machine / fax server can be reduced, and as a result, the unit price of the fax machine / fax server can be reduced, and there is an advantage that a cheaper fax transmission cost can be realized.

  In the first embodiment described above, the communication line (101) has been treated as a line such as a LAN. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to a normal telephone line.

  An example applied to a telephone line will be described as a third embodiment.

  As a system diagram, the communication line (101) in FIGS. 1 and 6 is simply replaced with a telephone line, and the illustration is omitted.

  In this case, communication between the FAX apparatus in the store and the server becomes normal FAX communication.

  In this case, unlike a LAN line, a means for transmitting destination information to a FAX server using FAX communication is required.

  This procedure will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the FAX apparatus installed in the store.

  First, the FAX apparatus determines whether or not FAX transmission is instructed in Step 30, and if instructed, in Step 31, the destination information (address destination telephone number) is embedded in a signal used in FAX communication. This can be realized by inserting the destination telephone number into the FAX signal called NSF (Non Standard Facility).

  Next, in Step 32, the telephone number of the FAX server stored in the apparatus in advance is extracted, and in Step 33, a call is made to the FAX server, and FAX data is transmitted by a normal FAX communication procedure.

  Finally, in Step 34, it is determined whether or not the FAX transmission is finished. When the FAX transmission is finished, the FAX transmission is finished, the call is disconnected, and the process is finished.

  Although not shown here, on the contrary, in the FAX server that receives this FAX, the destination information (destination telephone number) may be extracted from the received NSF signal.

  The subsequent operation of the FAX server is the same as that in the above-described embodiment.

  Thus, it is possible to use a telephone line as a communication line. In this case, it is not necessary to install an expensive line like a LAN, and the system cost can be further reduced.

  This example in which a telephone line is applied to the communication line can naturally be implemented in the second embodiment. In this case, it is also necessary to transmit regional and wide area information using a telephone line. However, this transmission does not need to be performed in particular, and the BFT (Binary File Transfer) procedure defined in the FAX transmission procedure is used. If it is used, transmission is possible with an ordinary FAX apparatus.

  As described above, when sending a fax from a store at a destination, etc., because it is a system that adds information on the store that is installed and sends it to the other party, advertising charges can be collected from the installed store. Since the system operation cost and communication cost can be covered by the advertisement fee, the FAX transmission cost borne by the terminal user who actually performs FAX transmission can be reduced.

  Furthermore, because the area of the FAX partner is limited and information closely related to the area is selected and added, it is not only more useful for users who receive information, but also on the store side. There is an advantage that more useful information can be advertised.

System diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention Signal exchange diagram in the first embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the FAX server in 1st Example of this invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the FAX server in 1st Example of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a table used for an area identification means in this invention. (A), (b) The figure which shows the example of the area | region and wide area information in this invention System diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the FAX apparatus in the 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 FAX apparatus 102 installed in a store FAX server 103 FAX apparatus of transmission destination

Claims (5)

  A facsimile machine installed in a store, etc., and a facsimile server that is connected to the facsimile machine via a communication line, temporarily stores transmission data from the facsimile machine, and transmits (transfers) to the designated destination by facsimile; The facsimile server stores store information for each region, and receives facsimile destination image information and facsimile image data at the time of facsimile transmission from the facsimile machine. Area specifying means for specifying the destination area from the destination information, and means for selecting the area information that best matches the destination from the stored store information of each area from the specified area When sending (transferring) facsimile information, the store information selected by the selection means is converted into facsimile data. Characterized in that a means for pressurizing and send facsimile transmission service system.   A facsimile server having a facsimile transmission function installed in a store or the like, which stores the store information of each region, specifies the destination region from the destination information at the time of facsimile transmission. From the specified area, there is a means to select the area information that best matches the transmission destination from the stored store information of each area from the specified area, and it is selected by the selection means when sending facsimile information A facsimile transmission service system, comprising means for adding the stored store information to the facsimile data and transmitting it.   3. The facsimile transmission service system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of facsimile servers having a facsimile function are connected by a communication line and are provided with distributed storage means for distributing and storing area information to be stored. Features a facsimile transmission service system.   2. The facsimile transmission service system according to claim 1, wherein the communication line between the facsimile apparatus of the store and the facsimile server is a telephone line, the destination information of the facsimile apparatus of the other party is embedded in the facsimile transmission signal, and the information is exchanged by a facsimile transmission procedure. And a facsimile transmission service system.   5. The facsimile transmission service system according to claim 1, wherein the regional information is exchanged by a facsimile transmission procedure signal.

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